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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Is there a 'window of opportunity' for weaning and if you miss it, you are in trouble....

12 replies

Ceebee74 · 07/03/2007 20:39

My DS is nearly 8 months old - I started weaning him at 6 months old even though he wasn't showing any 'signs' - and true to form, he was very slow to take to it (Eating very little, being easily distracted by the floor rather than eat). However, things improved and he suddenly seemed to want to eat (much less mess, not interested in grabbing the spoon - just wanted the food in his mouth).

Great so far - anyway, about 2 weeks ago, he started puking every day (usually late on) but he did have a cough and coughing fits seemed to cause him to puke. Last week I decided to cut the solids out in case he was getting too full and his stomach muscle too weak to hold it back, he was losing weight and obviously needed to keep something down - I have been giving him an extra 9oz bottle every day and so far so good - still pukes a bit but nowhere near as bad (he still has quite a bad cough so am reluctant to restart solids until that has cleared)

Anyway, to cut through all this waffle, my friend worried me today by saying that I might miss the 'window of opportunity' and then it will be a struggle to get him to eat in future - is this the case? Am I damaging my little boy ?

OP posts:
WeaselMum · 07/03/2007 20:46

ceebee - I went through much the same thing with my ds about three weeks ago (he's 9 months tomorrow). Something was causing him to throw up every night (he had a bit of a cold - still don't know if that was it). He too was only just getting the hang of eating solids etc after starting weaning at 6 months.

Anyway I tried giving him quite a plain dinner, earlier than usual, and giving him a diluted bottle last thing....and somehow it just all stopped and we got back to normal within 3 days. Since then he has been eating far more than ever before and seems to be really enjoying his food - so I would say that it certainly didn't damage him...and I think what you are doing is very kind - trying to fill him up with food if he is going to bring it all back doesn't seem right...sounds like you are doing the right thing imo x

CorrieDale · 07/03/2007 20:49

lol! No, you're not Ceebee. There is NO window of opportunity - it came from one study that had very limited scope, but was misinterpreted by various people. Incl HVs...

lulumama · 07/03/2007 20:50

tis a load of absolute bloody bolleaux , my dear !!

you are not damaging your little boy

was reading La Leche book recently all about breastfeeding...and there is no problem introducing solids at 8 or 9 months or later !

food is for fun until you are one !

milk is still the main source of nutrition

DD had gastroenteritis at 8 months and did not eat any solid food for 10 days

she is fine

eats anything

even dogfood !

trust me, the window of opportunity is absolute rubbish

poor little man,being so poorly..kisses from me xxx

emkana · 07/03/2007 20:50

That window of opportunity thingy is just bolleaux IMO.

Dd2 only had milk until 12 months, and is a perfectly fantastic eater now at 3.6.

Ceebee74 · 07/03/2007 20:52

Thanks for all your kind reassurances - isn't it amazing how one throwaway comment from someone can upset you?

OP posts:
FrannyandZooey · 07/03/2007 20:53

yes eating is probably the most powerful human drive after sex, yet we only have a month or two to get babies to do it because then the desire will fade

I don't think so

Ceebee74 · 07/03/2007 20:54

Plus I should know better than to listen to my friend who started weaning her DS at 14 weeks

OP posts:
FrannyandZooey · 07/03/2007 20:55

Ceebee tell her she has missed the window of opportunity for you taking any notice of her

harpsichordcarrier · 07/03/2007 20:57

lol at Franny
you have started to wean him, though, he has eaten solid food
don't worry. dd2 hardly ate anything until ?? 8 months, probably it's hard to recall now

Greensleeves · 07/03/2007 20:57
LucyJu · 07/03/2007 21:00

I knew a mum once who missed the "window of opportunity"........

Her son is 23 now and it's awful, all he can ever eat or drink is milk!

Yeah right. He'll eat when he's ready, don't worry. Your friend, I'm afraid, is talking b***ks.

DontlookatmeImshy · 07/03/2007 21:08

I got this garbage from a hv who said if didn't introduce lumpy food before 8 months we would have trouble getting them to accept it.

Ds didn't have lumpy food till about 10 months and guess what, he chomps his way through chinky lumpy stuff (eg mince) whereas his fellow toddlers who were weaned at 4 months won't touch the stuff.

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